Фотогалерея ‒ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Guide to Ho Chi Minh City

A city of tall skyscrapers and humble huts of the poor.

Ho Chi Minh City, situated in the southern part of Vietnam on the right bank of the Saigon River near the Mekong Delta, boasts a population of over seven million people. This number continues to grow, as the bustling metropolis holds great appeal for young individuals from Vietnamese villages. As you stroll along the waterfront, you'll witness a different facet of life in the city. Modest shacks belonging to local fishermen line the area, with Vietnamese children energetically entertaining visitors for a few hundred VND. Originally founded in 1698, the city was initially named Saigon after the river it sits beside. In its early days, it was a small town centered around the Gia Dinh Fortress. During the era of French colonization, Saigon emerged as the capital of French Indochina. The city underwent significant architectural and economic development during this period. Towards the end of the colonial era, Saigon became the focal point of the movement to liberate the country from foreign rule.

Photos of Ho Chi Minh City

Tips for tourists

You should stay in the center, in district 1, where the bulk of hotels, most attractions, stores and national cuisine restaurants are concentrated.
Beware of the heat, which peaks in March and May. The thermometer often rises to +40°C during the day. May through November is the rainy season. Bring an umbrella or light windbreaker on your trip.
When going shopping, know the main rule: bargain everywhere and with everyone. Practice shows that Vietnamese sellers initially quote highly inflated prices. You can "knock them down" at least threefold.
Population
8 611 000
Time zone
UTC +07:00
Language
Vietnamese
Currency
VND

Tours to Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese metropolis, is a place that offers plenty to see, numerous opportunities for leisurely walks, and a wide range of entertainment options. Tours in Ho Chi Minh City provide the chance to explore intriguing places and cultural sites. When you embark on Ho Chi Minh City tours, you'll have the opportunity to visit temples and pagodas, including the renowned Jade Emperor Pagoda. These tours provide insights into the contrasting facets of the city, showcasing both its opulence and poverty, as well as the coexistence of Buddhist and Christian influences. The cost of the cheapest trip to Ho Chi Minh City typically ranges from 280 to 350 USD. You can find the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City on tripmydream and book your trip through the service. Tour prices can vary, but even during the peak season, you can explore the city without spending a fortune, especially during the off-season. Whether you opt for hot tours or plan your own itinerary, Ho Chi Minh City offers a range of affordable accommodations in comfortable hostels and budget-friendly restaurants. On average, your trip may cost between 250 to 500 USD, excluding flight expenses, so booking in advance can help you save money. Exploring Ho Chi Minh City's botanical gardens, twelve mosques, impoverished neighborhoods, and luxurious villas provides a diverse and captivating mosaic of experiences, appealing to all lovers of the East.

Interesting places in Ho Chi Minh City

The most popular neighborhood for walking in Ho Chi Minh City is District 1. The route passes through Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace, the General Post Office, the Opera House, City Hall, the Rex Hotel and the Botanical Gardens. All the city's tourist routes converge on Pham Ngu Lao Street, the busiest spot in District 1. Here you can have a delicious meal in penny cafes, visit a massage parlor or just walk along the street with the crowds of Vietnamese youth.

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

The cheapest tickets to Ho Chi Minh City from European cities are offered by Etihad Airways. However, the journey is quite long, lasting more than 24 hours, and involves two connections in Minsk and Abu Dhabi. The price of a ticket to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 780 USD.

The best hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City hotels offer real luxury with apartments like the Rex Hotel, or save money with hotels like the Mai Phuong Thao Hotel.

If you're here for sightseeing, photos, sightseeing and sightseeing, low rates at hotels like the Ngan Long Hotel and Truc An Hotel will keep you happy.

It's also possible to find cheap options among three-star apartments. These are probably the best choice. You will get economical rooms for 70 USD, and the quality of service will be quite satisfactory. So go for Palace Hotel Saigon and May Hotel.

In Ho Chi Minh City, many four-star hotels differ little from three-star hotels. Roomy rooms, family-friendly suites, good food. Economy accommodations are also available at upscale Vietnamese hotel complexes such as the Vissai Saigon Hotel or Parkroyal Saigon Hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City's four-star hotels are not much different from three-star hotels.

The cost of vacation

In Ho Chi Minh City, both accommodation and food are quite reasonable. Airfare is the only cost that can significantly affect your wallet. We will give you approximate prices for a vacation in Ho Chi Minh City.

The budget for a trip to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight from 780 USD Accomodation from 4 USD
Transportation fare from 0.26 USD Average check in a restaurant from 5 USD
Excursion from 1 USD
Total: Total from 1618 USD for four days

Ho Chi Minh City: tips for tourists

tripmydream has gathered for you the most useful tips that will make your stay in Ho Chi Minh City positive and carefree.

Visa to Ho Chi Minh City

Tourists can stay in Vietnam for 14 days without any additional documents - only with a passport and return tickets.

Lathose who plan to vacation in the country for more than 14 days need to apply for a visa in Ho Chi Minh City. To do this, you need to go to the Vietnamese embassy with a completed application form and a package of documents. Usually the whole process of obtaining a pass to the country takes no more than 7 days. The cost of a visa to Ho Chi Minh City is about 42 USD.

The second option is to apply for a visa on arrival, right at the airport. But for this, in addition to your passport and return tickets, you need to have a letter of confirmation from the Vietnam Immigration Department. It can be ordered online (for example, on this site). The price of a letter for a visa to Ho Chi Minh City starts from 14 USD.

Airport

Ho Chi Minh City Tan Sonnyat Airport is located in the city limits, 7 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Its annual passenger traffic is 17 million people.


Passengers arriving from abroad are served by the international terminal No. 2. All services and important facilities are located very compactly and conveniently. Information desks, currency exchange and baggage claim offices are located on the first floor. But ATMs are outside the terminals. Free Wi-Fi, unfortunately, is not available. Internet access is available only in the business lounges.

Transfer

There are two ways to get to the city center: by bus (daytime only) and by cab.


Bus #152 runs from 6:00 to 18:00. Departure is every 20 minutes. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes. Buses stop in front of Burger King restaurant. The ticket price is VND 5,000 (you have to pay separately for luggage).


The second option is a cab. It can be caught to the left of the exit from Terminal 2. The fare is approximately 220,000 VND.

Car rental

International driver's license is not valid in Vietnam (only Vietnamese license). Therefore, car rental in Ho Chi Minh City is only possible with a local driver. Renting a car will cost about 500,000 - 10 million VND per day (depending on the class of the chosen car). Driver's services are paid separately - from 400,000 VND for 1-4 hours per day.


A cheaper alternative to renting a car in Ho Chi Minh City is to rent a motorcycle or scooter. The approximate cost of such an "iron horse" is 200,000 VND per day.

Transportation

Ho Chi Minh City has 152 bus routes (including suburban destinations). Ticket prices on Ho Chi Minh City transportation vary from VND3,000 to VND10,000, depending on the range of travel. Payment is made directly to the driver at the entrance.


An equally popular means of transportation in Ho Chi Minh City is the motorcycle cab. It costs no more than 100,000 VND. Almost all bikes or rickshaws are single-seaters.

Safety

It is only here that the local police have a special unit to fight organized crime. Tourists should be very careful on the streets.


Motorbike thieves are especially dangerous. Their main targets are bags with thin, long handles, gold chains and cell phones, cameras and camcorders in their hands. Robbers become more active at night, but don't relax during the day.

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